August 5, 2005 12:03 AM

Broken: Restroom sign

Paul Belden writes:

Walden Colorado, "Home of the 1990 Nation's Capitol Christmas Tree", has a population of 870, an elevation of 8,100 feet, and a restroom in the back of its courthouse that questions whether one should be lady-like, or gentlemanly.

It's only broken if you're in North America. Unisex bathrooms are common in Western Europe and in many other parts of the world.

Posted by: Tim at August 5, 2005 07:11 AM

Oh come on, Tim! If it's unisex, it should just say "Toilet" or "Restroom" -- or have one of those pictogram signs that show both a male and female figure.

Having a sign *above* the door that says Ladies and a sign *on* the door that says Gentlemen? That's just broken.

Posted by: stoo at August 5, 2005 08:01 AM

And seriously, John Russell and everybody else who's said "first": NOBODY CARES!

Posted by: stoo at August 5, 2005 08:02 AM

A fine example of an uptite indvidual who relys on signs to guide his life. (Thanks Stoo) If you really gotta go, who pays attention to the sign. Build the bridge, get over it....

Posted by: Tim at August 5, 2005 08:48 AM

All they have to do is add a "D" over the door(Laddies) and it would be OK.

Posted by: Sean P at August 5, 2005 08:51 AM

the ladies toilet thing is to insult every guy going in there buy saying those toilets are for ladies whil the bathroom is for men

Posted by: unknown at August 5, 2005 09:42 AM

I can imagine myself starting a "what's *really* broken" thread on the topic of arbitrary, puritannical social conventions against mixed defication, but I'll dutifully refrain.

Instead, I'll just state that labeling something with contradictory information is defintely broken. Personally, though, these signs wouldn't stop me if I really had to go.

Posted by: Robby Slaughter at August 5, 2005 10:39 AM

OK, first of all this is a government building, which should explain some of the confusion we all experience when dealing with the government in any fashion. Perhaps design & placement of these signs was done by the same guy who designs the Form 1040 - an obvious bureaucrat who delights in confusing us. His office is just inside the door, to the left, you can't see his desk, but it's there!

It's a trap! Don't know about Walden Colorado, but in my state, it's illegal for a man to walk into a woman's restroom - a violation which caries a stiff fine. Seeing as this town only has a population of 870, they've gotta find creative ways of keeping the revenue flowing!

Posted by: Bing at August 6, 2005 11:01 AM

This is the predominant cause for a condition called Transurnaphobia, the fear of entering a bathroom because you can't read the sign. 10,000 cases reported each year by individuals over 70 and has a distinct effect on the sale of Depends. Occurs most often in Mexican restaurants.

Posted by: Hal at August 6, 2005 12:07 PM

Nowadays it's hard to tell if someone is male or female. Sometimes even that indiviual really isn't sure. But when ya gotta go...

Posted by: Poindexter T Quakenfuss at August 7, 2005 07:41 AM

It's a bathroom for blind ladies and seeing gents. Didn't you see the thread where we showed that in government buildings, the signs for blind people are above your head and the signs for seeing people are at eye level?